Severely endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS

"The Melo population totals about 98,000 in the Laha Woreda (district) alone."

DOMAINS OF USE

MORE ON VITALITY

"Speakers of Melo expressed the following views about the vitality of their language. They said that at least the Melo people in Laha are in a process of change. It was stated that the people of Laha speak Melo less and less and that they prefer to speak Gofa and Amharic instead. Concerning language maintenance, it was said that Melo was still being spoken in many villages and that this would continue for generations."

OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY

Amharic

Gofa

Basketto

English

Sidamo

Oromo

LANGUAGE CONTEXT COMMENTS

"Languages which are acquired by children before they start school include Gofa and Basketto. But, interestingly, none of the children have learned Melo as their first language! [...] Gofa is the language which is used by approximately forty-five percent of the interviewees when they speak with their family members; Melo by approximately twenty-five percent, Amharic by approximately twenty percent, and Basketto by approximately ten percent."

"The Melo population totals about 98,000 in the Laha Woreda (district) alone."

Gofa largely used in public life; Gofa or Amharic are used when speaking emotionally; Gofa is used more often in the family than Malo

Amharic, Gofa, Basketto, English, Sidamo, Oromo

"Languages which are acquired by children before they start school include Gofa and Basketto. But, interestingly, none of the children have learned Melo as their first language! [...] Gofa is the language which is used by approximately forty-five percent of the interviewees when they speak with their family members; Melo by approximately twenty-five percent, Amharic by approximately twenty percent, and Basketto by approximately ten percent."

Almost all

Severely Endangered (20 percent certain, based on the evidence available)

"Speakers of Melo expressed the following views about the vitality of their language. They said that at least the Melo people in Laha are in a process of change. It was stated that the people of Laha speak Melo less and less and that they prefer to speak Gofa and Amharic instead. Concerning language maintenance, it was said that Melo was still being spoken in many villages and that this would continue for generations."

14

1994

Malo: An Unknown Ometo Language

New Trends in Ethiopian Studies: Papers of the 12th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies, Michigan State university, 5-10 September 1994